For Kaepernick, The Honeymoon’s Over

When the Seahawks, whom we should've beaten, went on to just destroy the Broncos, it was easy to think, for the third year straight, just how close we seem to be.

But as I review these last two weeks, I wonder just how close we are.

Two decades ago, Joe Montana sat in a meeting room, watching film with his receivers and an offensive coach. The coach was focused on getting the receivers to run their routes with total precision, making the play look the same on the field as it did on the chalkboard. For example, the coach noted an issue with the way they were running a double-post; the receivers were getting too close together, allowing one corner to cover them both. Finding a play where they were able to keep the proper distance, the coach nearly squealed with delight. "That's a pretty picture," he said.

Montana, of course, had nothing against running perfect routes. After all, his legend was chiefly the product of a system that placed precision above all else. Nevertheless, he didn't think that the coach's focus was necessarily in the right place. To Montana, what mattered wasn't so much the "perfection" of a receiver's route. What mattered, instead, was the receiver's position in relation to the corner. In other words, if the receiver had to choose between running the route as the coach designed it, and opening up a passing lane, the receiver should screw the route and just get open. "Because if you're shoulder to shoulder with the cornerback," Montana said, "I'm gonna have to come off you."

Though Montana was the game's closest thing to a superhero, he knew that his job was much simpler than that. In the West Coast Offense, he understood, someone somewhere would always be open. Montana's job was simply to find him. So that was what he told his receivers. It doesn't matter who you are; what matters, instead, is whether you're open. If you are, I'll throw to you. If you're not, I'll move along.

As you might recall, with his last play against Seattle, Colin Kaepernick threw a deep pass into the end zone, intended for Michael Crabtree. As you might also recall, the pass was tipped and intercepted, costing the Niners the Super Bowl. In the aftermath, the pass was analyzed a hundred different ways. Some questioned the play-call, noting that we didn't need to be so aggressive. Some questioned the match-up, noting that Crabtree was up against Richard Sherman, the league's top corner. And some questioned the pass itself, noting that it was underthrown.

But the central issue was something else, much simpler and much worse.

Crabtree was covered, and Kaepernick just didn't care.

Crabtree, indeed, was "shoulder to shoulder with the cornerback." (Actually, that's saying it generously; Sherman was slightly ahead of Crabtree, as well as inside him.) The passing lane was impossibly small, if it even existed at all. Montana, then, would've come off him, looking for that open man. (And, indeed, he would've found one.) But Kaepernick threw it anyway, and that's the central issue here.

When Kaepernick made basically the same mistake, in basically the same situation, at the end of the previous Super Bowl, I forgave him immediately. Sure, in a way, the Super Bowl was much more egregious; naturally, the stakes were higher, and Kaepernick tried to force it to Crabtree on three occasions, not just once. But there was plenty of mitigation; Kaepernick was a virtual rookie, going against a seasoned defense, and each of those throws would've drawn a flag from any other officiating crew.

So what mattered wasn't so much the mistake, as painful as the mistake might've been. What mattered was, he needed to learn.

Shockingly, Kaepernick didn't. And to make matters worse, he still hasn't.

A week after the Seattle game, Kaepernick asserted that his only mistake was the underthrow. As for the decision to throw it at all, he didn't show a trace of regret. He showed, instead, a stubborn defiance: "I'm going to take Crabtree every chance I get on a one-on-one matchup." No matter whether Crabtree is coveredno matter who else might be openhe "would do it the same way again."

To be fair, Kaepernick spoke at least partly for show, defending Crabtree against Sherman's postgame incoherence. But nevertheless, Kaepernick merely confirmed what these last two seasons seemed to suggest. When the stakes are highest, Kaepernick is throwing to Crabtree, no matter what.

How many times must this policy fail, before he starts to consider a new one?

Crabtree's a solid top-receiver, but he's not Jerry Rice, whom Kaepernick makes him out to be. (Indeed, if he were that great, wouldn't one of these passes have worked?) But that's not even the point. Montana had Jerry Rice, and even he didn't just assume that Rice would win every one-on-one. Sometimes, Rice was covered; and if Rice was covered, Montana moved on.

He didn't just throw it up into coverage. That's how you throw away championships.

This offseason, Kaepernick's contract will be a hot topic. And it's amazing how one play can change your perspective. Before that play, I would've thrown the world at him. Physically, he wasand still isthe most spectacular quarterback ever. And he did produce a spectacular season, making me say, going into the playoffs, "Colin Kaepernick isn't the issue." But this franchise isn't about spectacular seasons; it's about collecting Super Bowl titles. And with that in mind, after that play, I can't deny the simple truth.

Something here is seriously wrong. Contrary to popular belief, Kaepernick isn't a one-read QB. But when the stakes are highest, he becomes one, with disastrous results.

After his Super Bowl heartbreak, Kaepernick was given that rarest of gifts: an honest-to-goodness second chance. The fact that he did the same thing againthat he didn't learn from that awful painis almost literally unbelievable. And now, after we've been through the three most gut-wrenching consecutive playoff defeats in the history of the game, he's got the sheer audacity to say, if he's lucky enough to get a third chance, he's just gonna do the same thing again?

What on earth is wrong with this kid?

It's interesting, what heartbreak will do. For me, Kaepernick was love at first sight. It wasn't just his physical skills; it was also his utter indifference to fear. But fearlessness, though crucial for success in any pursuit, can all too easily morph into recklessness. And though fearlessness might take you right to the end, recklessness will strand you there. Recklessness will break your heart.

The season just ended, but next season's story is already here. For Kaepernick, the honeymoon's over. The benefit of the doubt is gone. He's gotten us tantalizingly close, but to get us over this awful hump, he must adjust his big-game approach. At this point, I'm not sure that he can. But after all, he's got no choice.

He just can't break my heart again.

The views within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.

Comment: First day off in three weeks. So of course I go back to Kaplan's Comments Board. Had to respond to Psinex' comments over my morning coffee. First, I can't bash Kap. He had a bad game in two playoff games, losing both to the Ravens and Seahawks. His fault, gross overconfidence in Crabtree that he will win every 50-50 ball in one on one coverage against anybody. I can't defend this thinking. However, I think it's wrong to bash Kap for this poor decision. He is a smart, hardworking, incredibly talented athlete, I don't want to shake this young QB's confidence. I want him to grow as a player and learn to make better decisions and quicker reads. He will grow as a QB, he has the work ethic, talent, and drive to be great. But the one thing I want him to understand and everybody else, Crabtree is an overrated possession receiver, stop forcing balls to this guy. Kap is the guy that will win us the Superbowl, Crabtree is the guy we need to replace.

Comment: It's coaching. When a team with this much talent (time is running out) has problems in the Red Zone time after time after time, it's coaching. Discipline and play calling can be corrected if the coaches know how.

Comment: I think your read of Kaepernick, which mirrors my own, is correct. He has awesome physical talent, but his grasp of the art and science of quarterbacking seems lacking at the most fundamental level.
Rule # 1 for a QB (stated by QB coaches worth their salt, including Coach Jim Harbaugh himself): Protect the football. INTs and lost fumbles will kill your team. Colin was singularly responsible for three turnovers, throwing two INTs and losing one fumble. You cannot score if you don't have the football. It's really that simple.
Good QBs never leave good throws on the field. A good throw is any throw that advances your team towards a score. Kaepernick often ignores the short dump-off (the type of throw Alex Smith learned to find in his last two years with the 49ers) and will take the long shot. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But the point is, ignoring the open man means you lose the chance to gain yardage. Every positive yard gained adds up to a scoring possession. In contrast, every incompletion and turnover adds up to a lost opportunity to move the ball forward.
Kaep needs to improve dramatically if the 49ers are to hoist the Lombardi Trophy again.

Comment: I think you are right. Kap has physical gifts that make GMs drool. Hey, he ran for 200 yards on GB. Then threw for 300 yards on GB.
Kap seems to play indecisively and inconsistently. Not knowing to run or pass. Might have been due to line play. Could have been OC play calling. Kept putting Kap in tough situations. Still, he doesn't trust some guys yet. He's got to be like Brady, keep throwing to them anyway. Newton seems calmer in the pocket. Wilson is shorter and probably slower than Kap. But he's smarter with the football. According to overthecap.com Wilson makes 500k. Kap makes 1 mil. Wilson should ask for a raise. GMs can take a wait and see approach. Like the Ravens, Flacco got close, but not elite. Except, he won the SB, got 100 mil. He's not worth it. So probably better to set salary now. Tannehill makes 10 mil. Luck and Griffin make 20 mil. Those guys were first rounds. So they should get more. Kap should get 7-8 mil for 3 yrs.

Comment: I think the article places too much emphasis on the student while completely ignoring the teacher.
Montana had Walsh who many say was the greatest QB coach ever. Also, Montana accounted for at least 3 turnovers in the 1981 Championship game ("The Catch"). Prior to "The Catch" Walsh called timeout, calmed his young, STRUGGLING QB down, and then Montana made an incredibly difficult pass to a WR who made the play.
To me, Kaep could have benefited greatly from leadership and poise from the Coaching position. However, it was absent and Kaep was left to his own devices and, yes, he failed.

Comment: Kap is not the accurate QB Montana was, but i disagree that he failed to learn given just two seasons. Montana wasn't as gifted athletically, so he had to rely on accuracy and good decision making. Kap is still a young QB, and to have reached the SB and won more road playoff games than Montana or Young, he's extremely talented. Hope his "success" hasn't blinded him. If the Niners draft a featured WR like Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans, or make a blockbuster trade for Josh Gordon, then the WR corps will be much more balanced, and he wouldn't just have to bank on Crabtree alone...

Response: That's no excuse. Boldin, Davis, and Patton are very good complementary receivers. Kaepernick's persistent banking on Crabtree alone is his own fault.

By: Chantos

Date: Feb 4, 2014 at 10:28 PM

Comment: I agree that CK made a huge mistake throwing the ball to crabtree, but I also put a good part of the blame in the horrible timeout management by JH. First and ten with 47 or so seconds, call a timeout!! Reorganize your playcalling and go back to the field with less time pressure! There was also an offside by aldon smith that RW saw and knowing it was a free play made the throw to the endzone which gave the SH the advantage!! Anyway, CK needs to start acting like a franchise player, inside and outside the field!

Comment: Isn't it partly the coaches' fault for not telling him it was the wrong read? Maybe the coaches don't want to hurt his confidence and put the blame entirely on him. I think you're correct though, I'm sure Pete Carroll would take that throw and match-up every time.

Comment: tough business. remember when brady and kurt warner took over. what??? who???? but they went on to prove it. right now Kap is no better than mike vick level. maybe he can get to favre level but so far he has not shown the steve young potential. but that may be too much to ask, young and bill walsh and shanahan. Our wco roots however have been lost. a team with more probowlers than Montana or young cannot be last in passing. Its clearly the coaching or lack of. The doubts have to be placed on Harbaugh not Kap as Alex had similar problems in the second half of the Giants championship game. Harbaugh is right, his brother is the better coach. (just hired Kubiak and the wco for the Ravens)

Comment: Kap's problem - and the team's offensive problem - is the gimmicky Greg Roman offense whose complexity only serves to exhaust timeouts and confuse itself. I eagerly await his departure. Second, this offense has considerable talent but lacks dedication to detail, focus & hence perfection. It causes the team to stutter and start for drive after drive (the entire first half in the case of the Ravens SB). There are times I'm just hoping they can all get to the line and even snap the ball - let alone run a play properly. A long way from a Bill Walsh symphony!

Comment: Kap has started less than two NFL seasons...and in that time took his team within 5 yds of a SB win and a couple of inches from winning the NFC Championship. Who else has done that? Nobody, that's who. Nobody will outwork Kap, nobody. He'll learn from his mistakes and get better. That's what you should write about.

Comment: All of you who keep saying he's young and this is only his 3rd season!!! If you were among those who said that Alex Smith is a bust, you have no credibility!!! Alex Smith never had that! The 49ers were signing WR's off the street who were past their primes such as Johnny Morton. Remember that VD was drafted a year later and couldn't go out for passes because the 49ers were rebuilding the entire organization and drafting for Offense and Defense. And at that time the O-line was garbage!!!
Kap has had the same playbook (which Alex Smith taught him after he paid for him to fly to SD for the quote/unquote camp Alex), same coaching staff, and the same players to work with since being drafted including VD and Crabtree!!! If Kap wants to be great, why does he go to the sideline after making a bad play and put his baseball cap on and fold his arms over his chest in disgust, instead of going over the still photos of that drive and seeing what other choices he had on said play? Like PM, TB, DB, I've even seen Russell Wilson do this on a regular basis and he was ONLY in his 2nd NFL season!!! Stop making the "he's young give him some time" excuses!!!
And for those who have problems with the writer comparing Kap to Joe Cool & Steve Young, I have a better comparison for you!!!
How about "Big" Ben Roethlisberger, who won the SB in his 2nd season, which was his first season starting with a SB ready team and they won it all because he spread the ball around and didn't just throw it to Hines Ward because he was his best WR!!!!
You all sound just like Kap & Harbaugh acting like he shouldn't be criticized for his mistakes like anyone else!!! Especially for a guy who's had way more stability & continuity than the player he replaced!!!!
Q: Did Alex Smith lose that playoff game for KC?
Did Colin Kaepernick lose the NFCC game for the 49ers?
P.S.
KAP said it was his fault for the 3 to's which led directly to the 49ers losing that game after having the lead until those to's happened!!!
Sorry for being so long-winded!!

Comment: Alex had nowhere near the year Kap had. Their numbers were nearly equal, expect for advanced metrics (DVOA, WPA, ESPN QBR) where Kap was way better than Alex. Then you look at the schedules. Kap played against 8 defenses that were better than a single one Alex played against. That's half a season's worth of superior opponents.

Comment: Jeff, Always a fan but boy, you've really flip-flopped yourself with this article. I cautioned in a comment a while back that "Kaepernick most certainly is a part of the problem." Now that hindsight has deemed that valid, you're preaching the same. Solid writing but when things are good, you're too effusive in praise and when the chips are down, you're too overdramatic in outlining the flaws. The true tale is somewhere in the middle, and the problem is partly Kap and largely Greg Roman.

Comment: It's hard for him to learn from his mistakes when he comes to the sideline and gets patted on the back by his coach after a horrible decision. The problem is way further up the chain of command. Kind of scary when "I'll take that matchup every time."

Comment: What an overdramatic article. Almost Skip Bayless esque! I understand your heartbreak over the whole scenario, after all it is gut-wrenching, but I remember a time in the early '90s when Steve Young took over at the helm. Niners won a single title in almost a decade stretch. Kaepernick is much younger and less skilled as a passer. You should be happy that we have been this successful. Remember 2003-2009?

Response: I truly hate this kind of thinking. We're the NINERS, for crissake. We should be winning Super Bowl titles, and we shouldn't "be happy" with anything less.

By: Sweathappens

Date: Feb 4, 2014 at 8:12 AM

Comment: The real problem is that the 49ers are unable to run against the Seahawks. When they figure that out they will be able to beat them. That's assuming that the Seahawks don't get better which is a big assumption. Hopefully Lattimore is a star. Gore is still good but not quite good enough. You run effectively in that NFC Championship game and the Niners win assuming that the secondary doesn't give it all away. Good luck Carlos!

Comment: I don't understand why people can't deal with the fact that each of the following statements can be at the same time true (N.1 doesn't rule out N.2!):
1- Kaep was the best 49er offensive player in the NFCCG.
2- If Kaep keeps thinking that throwing to Crabtree covered is a better choice than throwing to Boldin open, the 49ers may have a HUGE problem in the next years.

Comment: Jeff, I wholeheartedly agree with your analysis. U can't leave the huddle predisposed to who you are going to throw it to without considering coverage. I said I thought he was anointed QB a year too soon. Aaron Rodgers is who he is because of having 3 years to grow. Like it or not, Alex Smith had a better year than Kap. But I thought this year would the year Kap supplanted him. It's time for Kap to deliver and I think he will, but he has to become more accurate, and read defenses quicker.

Comment: Kap had run for over 130 yards and had taken some Nasty hits in that last game. That's what makes this entire subject a catch-22. Without those runs the Niners aren't even close... But with those runs Kap gets winded and roughed up to a point that his decision-making process is compromised. Bottom line, he must learn to use his legs as a tool the defense must respect, but ultimately... Championships can't be won by a quarterback running all over the place and Kaplan's point is well taken.

Comment: When you're given a limited amount of time to correct your mistakes or learn from them, nothing is going to change. You are going to keep making those mistakes. There is no assurance of when things will be right. The only time we know that we have finally corrected our mistakes & learned from them is after it happens; when we face that same situation again but the outcome is different. So it's not fair to judge Kaepernick's entire NFL career based on a mistake he made either last year in the SB or 2 weeks ago in the NFCCG. Give him time to grow, to get experience as a starting QB because it is only his first full season after all... & most of all give him time to build a reputation. Montana didn't build his off of his first season did he? With plenty of mistakes come a lot of knowledge. So give him the time he needs & don't be too quick to point out his flaws and all as if no other QB in the leaque has any. But all in all, this was an excellent article!

Comment: It truly amazes me how jealousy brings out the worst in people. And how "eloquently" these people "think" they are masking it. Colin is an incredible QB, especially for just the two years he's started....and at 26...come on!!!!!!!!! Hmmmm, took the 49ers to a superbowl then the championship game the very next year? I'd say....kudos to Kap! He's only gonna get better from here and that's what these green-eyed insecure men are scared of....!

Comment: Youre kidding right? The game shouldnt have come down to one final drive. The defence allowing wilson to land 2 long passes one of which was a TD is just as much to blame. Letting Lynch stroll through the guts of the defencive line. The refs' incorrect call on the low shot on the kicker. Blaming the best offensive player on the team is ridiculous.

Comment: Phil: Think your attack of Crabtree is a bit off-base. Who is the one distributing the ball to receivers? Crabtree only runs his routes and tries to put himself in a position to make a play. Kaepernick was the one pulling the trigger on all of those fateful passes to Crabtree. He didn't go through his progressions, he just went straight to Crabtree as if he only had eyes for him. If Joe Montana had the same mentality in going to Rice, he would have never seen John Taylor get open for a TD to win the Superbowl against the Bengals. At some point, everyone has to acknowledge that Kaepernick is making poor decisions, rookie, 2nd or 3rd year QB...no more excuses. Foolish is foolish. We can only hope that next time he encounters what has become Kaepernick's Kobayashi Maru he tries a different approach. Maybe try passing underneath instead of out of the back corner of the end zone for a change.

Comment: Kap needs to learn pocket passing and must learn to deliver balls with timing. He lacks timing and often gets panicked. If he doesn't improve his passing game, he may not be able to keep this position for very long.

Comment: I have said the exact same things for the last 3 seasons but I disagree with u saying he had a great season. Look at his individual game stats, they were terrible, if it were not for our defense our record would have been a lot worse. Part of this may have to do with the fact that the coaches don't take pressure off of him by using more offensive sets. They need to use more screens or draw plays and not be so predictable in their playcalling or allow more checkdowns in run sets. We have underutilized the speed that we have on our team and need to be more aggressive on both offense and defense if we want to beat the aggressive teams in our division or the league.

Response: I'll just say it again. Crabtree was covered. HE WAS COVERED! With the Super Bowl on the line, Kaepernick ignored open receivers and threw to one who wasn't. And you don't have a problem with this?

By: Psinex

Date: Feb 3, 2014 at 8:01 PM

Comment: Thank you for expressing so eloquently exactly why I'm still fuming about Kaepernick's season-ending pass that cost the team a chance to return to the Superbowl. He threw it like he didn't have a choice, the game was going to end one way or another. It was as if he had his mind set on beating Sherman to end the game. He didn't look anywhere else, he went straight to Crabtree, who was not open. Crabtree isn't like Boldin...he won't fight for the ball. It was like deja vu from the play that ended the previous season in the Superbowl. Kaepernick obviously didn't learn anything about making the smart play. He even said he saw Kam Chancellor underneath Boldin's route, but threw it anyway...for an interception. He thought he could get it over Chancellor, probably because he barely managed to get it over Earl Thomas, who is 5 inches shorter than Chancellor. Honestly, I don't like how stubborn Kaepernick is. His judgment and knowledge are not deep enough to ignore alternative receiving options. Roman could draw 4 or 5 routes and it wouldn't matter if Kaepernick only looks at one, which is exactly what happened on the last play.

Comment: This is an unfair characterization and oversimplification of Kaepernick's evolution as a QB for a couple reasons.
First, you're comparing Kaepernick to arguably the greatest QB of all time. Even Steve Young talks about how Montana was different and unique in how he took in and processed information. Lets at least be a little fair and compare Kap to his peers or, at least, not the greatest Super Bowl QB of all time.
Second, not only are you comparing Kap to Montana but you're doing it at either some undefined point in Montana's career or some generalized summary of his career. How about comparing Kap to Montana at similar points in their career, or, more fairly, comparing Kap to Young at similar points in their career, which one would have to admit that Young was, at this point with the LA Express, a QB that used his legs and was evolving as a passer...and, yes, probably made the same mistake at least twice.
Third, your premise that Kap didn't learn from his "mistake" is faulty because of the limited data it is based on. 2 plays. Your entire conclusion is based on 2 plays out of approx 1000 pass plays since Kap took over as the QB. You can't come to any conclusions based on 2 plays.

Comment: Jim Harbaugh has stated (frequently) that there needs to be competition at every position on the roster and that no position is safe or guaranteed. Right now, there is no competition at the position of Quarterback on the 49ers roster. I believe the 49ers need to add a veteran QB to their roster AND they need to draft a QB as early as the 2nd or 3rd round of the upcoming draft. My suggestions for the veterans are Chad Henne (Jacksonville) or Matt Flynn (Green Bay). My suggestions for the draft are Zack Mettenberger (LSU), Jimmy Garoppolo (Eastern Illinois), or David Fales (SJ State).

Comment: Well written article Jeff. For me I feel similar but with one major difference. I blame Crabtree, and all the idiots in this town, that want to believe this guy is the savior. Early in the season our passing game was God Awefull, and Baalke, and I believe JH, decided with blind faith that a guy with a ruptured Achilles tendon would come back and lead us to the Lombardi Trophy. Well, that didn't happen. In the Superbowl last yr. we threw the ball three straight times to this guy and he couldn't make a play. Why in the hell do JH, Kap, and Baalke believe in this guy! I sure as hell don't! I don't mean to overlook the fact that I don't think Kap has progressed from Yr 1 to Yr 2. But it certainly doesn't help his maturity as a QB when his coach is preaching "Best Hands Of Any Receiver Ever" and Baalke overlooks Gordon, or anyone else with a pulse, all year waiting to get Crabs back from the IR. I think it's time for us to make the bold move and trade up to draft Watkins and trade Crabs. If Baalke made the bold move last year we would have had Gordon, won a SB, and wouldn't be in the position now to trade multiple draft picks. Lets not overlook Baalke for betting our season on a cripple.

Comment: I agree with you Jeff, and there are a couple of other recent events that bother me and confirm to me his immaturity and bad judgment. He responded to Richard Sherman in part by saying that Sherman was afraid of the 49er receivers. What a silly thing to say. Sherman isn't afraid of any receiver. Secondly, he stated he would have run a play to win last year's Super Bowl if Harbaugh had not called a timeout. This statement shows poor judgment in a couple of ways. He is casting blame on the one person who has been his most ardent supporter, even when things have been going badly for him. Also, he didn't remember that the referee had initially called a delay of game penalty but withdrew the call after he was informed that Harbaugh had requested a timeout before time ran out. This kid is self-centered, is lacking in class, and lacks appreciation for what others have done for him. I acknowledge his exceptional talent and accomplishments, but I don't know how teachable he is and how much he is going to learn from his mistakes, assuming he acknowledges he made them.

Comment: Get off Kaps back. He is good and so is our whole team. The superbowl was a joke this year. Watching the game Sunday, I swear we have the best offense and defense and I think the best Quarterback......

Comment: 3 turnovers in 1 quarter is why they lost. Kaep forgot to protect the ball, and "tried to make a play". Have to acknowledge that he is the "playmaker" whether you like it or not. My issue is with the playcalling in the 4th quarter and Roman's inability to adjust to defensive weaknesses on the fly. And Anthony Davis killed them in pass protection.

Comment: Awesome article.... I wish this could be posted at the Press Demo or at CSN. This needs to be published out there. I hope it sees that type of exposure. In addition, Kap's coaches should understand he's a young QB and he needs guidance. This is where you get your guy to see the bigger picture and I don't know if that's happening.

Comment: So, the kid just completed his first full season as a starting quarterback in the NFL and you are already questioning his ability to deliver? Every 49ers fan anguishes over the missed opportunities in the Super Bowl and NFC Title game, but to stick the losses squarely on the shoulders of Kaepernick is pretty cowardly. I am confident he will learn from his mistakes and thrive in the coming years on the biggest stage. Have a little faith dude, and please quit it with the heartbreak sob stories...

Comment: I'm not going to lay it all at the feet of CK7. Our defense was good not great in that game. Especially our safeties. One could argue that the game shouldn't have come to that last throw. We had that game pretty much in hand until the 50-yard bomb and Lynch's run.
That being said, I'm fine with throwing to the team's best WR in that situation. But not when there was probably a better option on the other side of the field and we had two timeouts. I think the throw showed CK7's youth and arrogance. He wanted to prove a point by beating Seattle's best player and he got burned on it.

Comment: Great article - real food for thought. I expect an elite QB to wait & find the man who gets open in the red zone (where our offense is least effective the last 3 years, with both Kap and Alex). I am not a fan of the current fashion for the "jump ball". If that's the play, I would have thought the more physical Boldin was the better bet than Crabs. It's congested in the red zone, and I don't like finesse throws here - timing, touch plays. They are a harder throw for the QB to judge, and the slower ball gives defenders that extra second to recover, to make a play, to fly to the ball - yet this is what we seem to favor. I prefer the QB to either wait for the open man & fire it in, take a receiver running a slant between the safeties, or trust the RBs (or the Kap option) to run it in. The old niners used to have a great play where Jerry would go in motion to the weak side where another receiver would run a slant to the post bringing the corner inside, and Joe would throw to Jerry's outside shoulder, from where he would take it in, with the safety still trying to get across. It was just about perfect for any down & goal, and was inevitably successful. Sorry, I do go on.....

Comment: Excellent points Jeff! My sentiments exactly. Except I would say that the coaching staff hasn't learned from their mistakes either. It just baffles me, on why we aren't more creative in situations like this. RW says that Pete Carroll is prepared for any situation, and that he coaches situational football, and is so precise and detailed. If Kap says he will take Crabtree every time 1 on 1 with a db, then they need to COACH him up enough, for Kap to know, that he has other options.

Comment: I agree 100% with Matt... Kaepernick has a lot of growing and a lot of fight left. It's only been a season and a half and both times he has taken the team to the playoffs and a Super Bowl. I know for a fact that every great QB makes mistakes and even repeats those mistakes. Montana wasn't perfect.
Kaepernick is going to be great in his years to come. Have faith. After all, all Niners fans claim to be forever faithful.
Are you?? Stand behind your QB no matter what.
Win lose or tie, Niners Fan till I die.

Comment: While I agree that he should have thrown to Boldin or Davis who I think were both open, he is in fact young and only completing his first full season as a starter. I think he will learn from his mistakes and take us back to the big show. He has something Montana never had (and maybe never needed), his legs. And that makes him one of my favorite Niners of all time.

Comment: Great article. Has all the talent and team around him. Run out of excuses. No more defending or excuses man, show up or go home dude. Simple. Alex got ripped for being a bust, why can't this guy get criticized? Pisses me off that he refuses to say he needs to improve on passing and pocket awareness. Montana told you what you need to improve on. Listen!

Comment: Who would you trade Kaepernick for? He's young, smart, tough, and very very successful. He's proven. Even if you say he's not. He's only going to get better, and could probably care less if he breaks your heart or not. So, you're wanting to give up on him already, so who do you replace him with. Manning? Brady? Luck? Alex Smith? Romo? Flacco? Matt Ryan? Wilson? Who? Who has more upside? IMO, the average fan basically has no idea what it takes to win in the NFL. The average fan doesn't have any idea what it would be like to play 4 must-win road games in a row at the end of a long season. The last one in the most inhospitable stadium ever built and he still came within a few inches of a perfect pass into the corner of the end zone to win the game. Harbaugh, his entire coaching staff, the organization, and the players, including Kaepernick, did a fantastic job this year. Can't wait for next season to start and look forward to watching Baalke work his magic again this offseason to continue to build the team.

Comment: Way too harsh on Kap. I'm not trying to be an apologist, but consider the defense he was going up against. Peyton Manning -- arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time, coming off the most statistically brilliant season at his position ever -- and the Denver Broncos -- the highest-scoring offense in NFL history -- put up 8 points against the Seahawks. EIGHT!
Kaepernick led the 49ers to 17 points. He literally took over the game at times (his 50-yard scramble comes to mind).
I think throwing toward Sherman was the correct decision, because he didn't have safety help over the top. He was one-on-one. Kaepernick made the read correctly, and took a shot...
By the way, thinking about that play: how about the postseason that Malcolm Smith had? Game-sealing interception in the NFCCG (showing great awareness to get in position for a deflection), and a FR/INT-for-TD in the Super Bowl.

Comment: Great article. Made me think of the second Super Bowl against the Bengals. With 34 seconds left, Montana found John Taylor in the end zone to win it, when everyone in the building and watching on TV (including myself) was expecting it to go to Jerry Rice. Rice was seemingly unstoppable that game, setting SB records and eventually winning the MVP, yet Montana was still willing to pass him up to look for the open guy.

Comment: I completely agree, this article says it all on Kap. For a starting QB his learning curve should have taken place on the bench, before he became our only option. Possibly too much wishful thinking too soon? Let's take another year with Kap for sure, but a huge corner needs to be turned in order for the 49ers to think he can win in these critical big games. I do think the recklessness issue should be addressed first and foremost. The Joe Montana routes I remember well. Perfect comparison here. Kap has the potential but he must now make a huge adjustment. Thx again for this excellent article.

Comment: I'm sorry, but it is ridiculous to deify Montana and pretend that he never made any mistakes and then compare Kaep to your fantasy. Montana was great, but even the great ones throw picks and make mistakes from time to time, and yes, they even repeat those mistakes.
It is impossible to know what Montana would have done had he been in Kaep's position on that play. It's nothing more than a speculative exercise in futility. This is a very different team and a very different offense than the one Montana was running back in the day.
I think we agree that Kaep is a good passer with extraordinary athletic skills. I disagree that he has reached his ceiling and I think he can develop into a great passer. We are only 1 1/2 seasons of playing time into the Kaepernick era, after all.

Comment: I think you're overemotive, overreactive, and failing to look at the game as a whole.
There was only one offensive player on the 49ers side that showed up to the game and he had every right to make that throw. That pass was the right option but poorly executed yes, however you neglect the errors and bad plays the defense gave up.
Not only that, you neglect the terrible performance by the defense in the Superbowl.
Now Kap is saying at the moment that he'll take his #1 receiver one on one every time, kind of like basic QBing tells him to, but whether or not he does indeed in the future do this is still not known.
However your entirely myopic view of two games where you overlook some significant defensive failings to lay the blame purely on a QB with less than 2 seasons starting experience is rather worrying for someone writing analysis on a popular website.
Your whole argument is that Kap is not Joe Montana. Well, there's no argument with that because it's so utterly redundant, however it doesn't deserve such a poorly thought-out rant and that does deserve questioning.

Response: No doubt, in both games, Kaepernick was our best offensive player, and our defense let us down at key points. But I don't think that either fact invalidates my point, that Kaepernick is showing a disconcerting failure to learn.

By: QB Sucks

Date: Feb 3, 2014 at 12:53 PM

Comment: CK refuses to acknowledge his shortcomings on the final drive of the last two seasons. He's taking on one major trait of his head coach: stubbornness.

Comment: 100% agree with the article. CK's stubbornness is a reflection of his coach. He needs to learn pretty quick because the way the NFC West is shaping up it will be hard to go back to the Championship or SB.
I wont pay him top dollar until he has proven that he can win the big one!

Comment: Awesome article. I do believe that Kaepernick's comments were almost entirely to defend Crabtree. But facts are facts, two big-game losses in a row end on routes to #15. I don't feel he's leaning too much on Crabtree though. The overall reasoning still remains, he needs to be more aware of the field during the play, i.e. progressions. Draft a smart pocket QB to at the very least relate to and help Kaep develop his pocket presence.

Comment: I hear you Jeff. I hope and pray he's NOT just good enough to kill your Championship hopes at the last second. He fell apart in the final quarter against Seattle. Take away the two picks and the fumble, and that's your 49ers beating the snot out of the Broncos instead of the other way around. But, instead, as you pointed out, he's done this twice now, and in the biggest of games. Let's hope Harbaugh can turn him into a wiser QB, and less of a "take the big shot" gunslinger.

Comment: Kaepernick may not be a one-read quarterback, but there have been plenty of times he's thrown to a covered man when others have been much more open. Also, what is with Harbaugh and Kaepernick obsessively heaping ridiculous amounts of praise on Crabtree? Does he exhibit some need for this after coming back from his injury? From what I've seen, Davis and Boldin are just as clutch. Even tho it may be as tough as hitting Romo's slider, it would be worth trying to get a look at all three before cutting it loose to a covered Crabtree.

Comment: Do you remember 1987, having the best team in football and losing to the Vikes at home? Do you remember what our great Joe Cool did that day? How about the year before @ NYG? Or how about Steve in 92 and 93 against Dallas? And then again in 95 and 96 against GB?
I understand the frustration because I too felt yesterday and said, "Man, that should be us...again!!!" Still, I will take Kap any day and as I said before, he will mature. I just read he's already training today. The way I look at him in that NFCC is that he gave us a chance, alone. He took over the game, made mistakes, costly ones at that, but still had a chance to win it at the very end.
Breaking hearts has been a part of this franchise, in the 80s and 90s by championship teams and the 2000s with mediocrity and failure. Now we are back. We will meet the Seahawks again for the NFCC, IMO, just like we did against the Cowboys in 94.
Do you believe in Kap? Sounds like you don't. For me, faith takes you to places you normally wouldn't reach. I have faith in Baalke and Harbaugh to get us a team that Kap can lead to the promised land. Most importantly, I have faith in Kap. I hope he proves you wrong.

Response: So do I, Tico. And I certainly haven't given up on him. But the way we mature is by learning from our mistakes. (Certainly, Montana and Young learned from theirs.) When Kaepernick seems unable or unwilling to do so, it's tough for me to keep the faith.

By: Jersey9er

Date: Feb 3, 2014 at 12:32 PM

Comment: I have to say I have no anger with the article. Kaep tried his hardest to get us the game, and I give him Kudos for that. Only problem I had was like you said, that he knew he was gonna go to Crabs, even before the play started. That once again brought up the subject we heard all season about how at times he locks onto one receiver. I too agree the honeymoon is over in regard to him being inexperienced in the offense. The same two mistakes in the same two most important games. He did it twice so far, so if it happens next year, then we have to accept that fact. I wouldnt pay him anything now, I would wait one more season to see what he produces. Meaning we cant say, hey he's only been in the offense for 3 years now. lol. Here's kudos to Kaep and our squad, but lets open up the offense more next year, instead of dialing it back like we did this year.

Comment: I just wasted 5 min of my time I'll never get back reading this!! Anyway, before you go having another "heartbreak", how about you let Kaep, who started just his first season by the way, show us how he handles this season. The fact that he's still learning is enough. He has potential, just watch and see...

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